Well done. Thank you Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland.
- Chief4Feathers

Amazing simply Amazing time .Thanks for the heads up . Think I will watch that one time before I go out, maybe twice it was so nice ...

I hope it's an interesting 48 hrs as doing nothing is not really a good option
- Yikes726

You do know that "may you live in interesting times" is a curse in some cultures? But seriously I think we all know as Pat Foley would say "somethin's gotta give!"

Quotes down. Good one Golfbard....!

And wouldn't be interesting that on the 3rd anniversary of 17 seconds, the 'Hawks lay the groundwork for #17 to sign as a UFA here one week from today.

JJ.

I mentioned on your last blog that I thought one CAP friendly move that helps BOTH teams would be a Seabrook to Edmonton deal where Nurse and some package of Driesidel, Yakopov, RNH, picks/prospects come back. Oilers would get there STUD D-man to build around. Hawks could get 2-3 cheaper bodies and some prospect depth. You see any fit here???? To me, Oilers would benefit greatly and may be willing to put a valuable package together for us....

You know, I could almost kick myself. I ALWAYS use ice on my lower back. Not sure why I haven't thought to use it on my upper. Maybe because it basically means complete immobilization while you're applying it.
- John Jaeckel

Doesn't have to mean immobilization.

Depending on how big the ice area is , Active Wrap makes some awesome products. I have the shoulder and knee wraps. The knee wrap can be used as a bigger shoulder wrap and a back wrap as well, covering large surface area. If you go this route, call them directly and tell them you want the medical grade freezing packs, not the consumer grade. The medical grade ones stay could exponentially longer but you have to ask them as they generally only sell them through hospitals, orthopedic surgeons, etc. With this product it velcros on and you can walk around, etc.

JJ.

I mentioned on your last blog that I thought one CAP friendly move that helps BOTH teams would be a Seabrook to Edmonton deal where Nurse and some package of Driesidel, Yakopov, RNH, picks/prospects come back. Oilers would get there STUD D-man to build around. Hawks could get 2-3 cheaper bodies and some prospect depth. You see any fit here???? To me, Oilers would benefit greatly and may be willing to put a valuable package together for us....
- hawk35

Oh...and YES...I know how shallow our Defence would be. But thinking Stan could address that with the extra Cap space and dealing some of the pieces...

I missed it last night, but:

Good luck with your back, John - you're too young for chronic back issues.

And - congratulations, Eli - a long haul, hope you and you're much-better half move forward into your next life phase with success and happiness.

I thought it was a good piece to include when you said Stan Bowman may not have to wait for the "right offer" as he did in the previous two summers. I have to agree with this and really hope he does not hold out. If a decent deal is there, take it, walk, and start addressing the roster needs.

There will definitely be movement today.

Another thing is "a young 2C and a lower line power LW"... Hmmm
- 93Joe

A "right offer" he really never got.

Young 2C - Bjugstad? Rakell? (wakes up)
- 93Joe

Backlund, Mikael?

Stan got out in front of the pack with the Bicks/TT move. Lets hope he stays the course and gets some moves done early today. The comment that the Hawks are comfortable with Darling speaks volumes. Maybe that is more from Bowman Sr. and his old Detroit model for putting a team together. The more I think about I can see Shaw/Kruger going in a package. If the Hawks really want a Ladd/Lucic/Brouwer type then CC will have to get moved as well.

Thats the catch and Stan needs to be making calls as to who he wants and what it will take money wise to bring them here. If I had my pick on that big LW it would be Ladd, Brouwer and then Lucic in that order. Somebody kicked around a Shaw/Kruger deal to the Oilers for Yak and Maroon. Yak might do really well playing on a line with 72 and 15. Then we could have the Russian 3! Throw back to the days when the Wings rolled the Russian 5 out there. Maroon is just a solid/big LW who will bring the needed grit.

Cheers to draft day and the fun of swirling rumors to come!!! Hope JJ had his coffee. Gonna be a busy day...

A "right offer" he really never got.
- StLBravesFan

Yup, but because his "right offer" over-valued his assets. JMO.

Backlund, Mikael?
- TyCamScore

Ryan Strome.

Stan got out in front of the pack with the Bicks/TT move. Lets hope he stays the course and gets some moves done early today. The comment that the Hawks are comfortable with Darling speaks volumes. Maybe that is more from Bowman Sr. and his old Detroit model for putting a team together. The more I think about I can see Shaw/Kruger going in a package. If the Hawks really want a Ladd/Lucic/Brouwer type then CC will have to get moved as well.

Thats the catch and Stan needs to be making calls as to who he wants and what it will take money wise to bring them here. If I had my pick on that big LW it would Ladd, Brouwer and then Lucic in that order. Somebody kicked around a Shaw/Kruger deal to the Oilers for Yak and Maroon. Yak might do really well playing on a line with 72 and 15. Then we could have the Russian 3! Throw back to the days when the Wings rolled the Russian 5 out there. Maroon is just a solid/big LW who will bring the needed grit.

Cheers to draft day and the fun of swirling rumors to come!!! Hope JJ had his coffee. Gonna be a busy day...
- z1990z

^ This - on all points.

The Oiler bloggers and fans don't have bad things to say about Yak - they're just frustrated because they see the team using him as a third-line option - which is not his strength - and it's driving his value down. No one around the Oilers question his work ethic. Put Yak on a 2nd line with two fellow Russian players like 72 and 15 - I would predict good things to follow.

Trading him now would severely damage the Hawks' credibility with any player they ask to work with them in the future. Take that to the bank.

I'm not sure about this JJ. The players know about the cap. They know it hasn't risen and I'm sure talked about it and sent whatever info to the rest of the players. The FO made it right and then the cap didn't go up to where everyone thought it would be. Normally, this would be spot on...but at the end of the day, I can't imagine it would hurt that bad. Oh and thanks UK...that's not going to hurt the Can$...Jerks.

OH...and feel better.

Ryan Strome.
- hpk90

Yes please

Just tweeted , thought we already knew this :

David Pagnotta ‏@TheFourthPeriod 18s19 seconds ago
Florida signs Yandle to 7-yr deal

A "right offer" he really never got.
- StLBravesFan

I guess so. However, no way to know for sure unless we were in the Hawks front office. It was more of a generalization to not wait - wasn't making it a forgone conclusion, with all due respect.

Each poster should start their post today with what they think will happen between now and July 8th (two weeks):

A) Blockbuster (moving a core piece)
B) Minor (moving a secondary piece - Shaw/Kruger/McNeil/etc)
C) Nothing

Just tweeted , thought we already knew this :

David Pagnotta ‏@TheFourthPeriod 18s19 seconds ago
Florida signs Yandle to 7-yr deal
- mrpaulish

Fla made it official

Backlund, Mikael?
- TyCamScore

That was going to be my next guess actually. He makes $1M less than AA. Wasn't he more of a 3C?

^ This - on all points.

The Oiler bloggers and fans don't have bad things to say about Yak - they're just frustrated because they see the team using him as a third-line option - which is not his strength - and it's driving his value down. No one around the Oilers question his work ethic. Put Yak on a 2nd line with two fellow Russian players like 72 and 15 - I would predict good things to follow.
- Chief4Feathers

Use to talk to Yak at the pool when he played Jr. here (think he was testing his English ) he has family in Chicago . Think he would be a great fit ,but Maroon don't think EDM will part with him lightly .He was a nice fit with Mc David late last year .

If you have too many big contracts, I don't think Lucic should be a target. Yes, you could potentially move on to fit him, but that's just rearranging where the big contracts are.

I have been roasted for suggesting that Anisimov is not a great fit for this bunch. I think he's a great guy and I'm sure he's enhanced 72's experience with the Hawks off the ice.

I'm not questioning AA's offensive production. My issue is that he doesn't win enough faceoffs as a 2C and doesn't complement the speed game of 72/88. I think they could get a younger, faster guy that wins faceoffs and enhance the quality of line #2.

Really hopeful that Hawks are able to achieve some of the things that JJ laid out as I fear this current roster is probably the worst since '11.

For all of the chatter out there, the one move that makes the most sense...

...if the terms are mutually agreeable...

...is the return of Brian Campbell.

Seems like a perfect fit as a 3rd pair/depth blueliner.

Each poster should start their post today with what they think will happen between now and July 8th (two weeks):

A) Blockbuster (moving a core piece)
B) Minor (moving a secondary piece - Shaw/Kruger/McNeil/etc)
C) Nothing
- -Doh-

My honest thought is between A and B. I can see Anisimov and Kruger moved for a couple draft picks and a bottom 6 guy.

Free Agency the hawks sign Brouwer to a 3yr and Vernon Fiddler to a 1 yr deal to replace the PK and Faceoff capabilities of Kruger.